Clear differences between organic and non-organic food

This new report form Newcastle is another positive pointer for organic foods. Organic farming continues to play an important role in our business and is really important to our customers. The issues r…

Published Research – Linking neonicotinoids to a decline in farmland birds

Last week another report was published linking neonicotinoids to a decline in farmland birds. Many other reports have some chemicals in this group with the decline of bees and pollinators. The reasons…

Waitrose Science Day 2014

The Waitrose Science Day will take place at the University of Warwick on Tuesday 18th February 2014. The day will be a fantastic opportunity for delegates to hear updates from suppliers, academics a…

Waitrose Farm Assessment Report (version 1) now available

The Waitrose Farm Assessment (WFA) is an initiative which was conceived by the Agronomy Group in 2011. Over the past year all of our fresh produce suppliers and growers have completed the assessments…

Food waste: ‘Six meals a week’ thrown away by Britons

British families throw away an average of the equivalent of six meals per week in food waste, research has suggested. Publicly-funded recycling group the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) sa…

Waitrose Technical Conference and Waitrose Farm Assesment Report Launch

WFA Report launch with attendance from our Academic Partners – Tuesday 12th November 2013 – Evening session from 5pm and Waitrose Technical Conference – Wednesday 13th November 2013 …

Concentrations of warming gases break record

The levels of gases in the atmosphere that drive global warming increased to a record high in 2012.   According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), atmospheric CO2 grew more rapidly l…

Soil Association publishes market report

The 2013 Organic market report highlights key areas of growth in online retail, independent outlets and a shift towards younger consumers during 2012. Overall, the market has dipped by 1.5% as the UK …

Aberystwyth University unveils £35m agri-research plan

Aberystwyth University has unveiled ambitious plans to redevelop its agriculture research facilities into a £35m innovation centre. Its Gogerddan campus outside of the town is to become the Aberystwy…

Meeting on UK’s run of unusual seasons

Weather and climate experts from across the UK came together at the Met Office’s HQ in Exeter today for a workshop to discuss the recent run of unusual seasons in Europe. A total of 25 delegates att…

Smartphone app to help protect our bees

Waitrose is asking people to get involved in a fun but important project to help protect bees and other pollinating insects.   The retailer has worked with international environment charity Earth…

Declining bee populations pose a threat to global agriculture

A report from Yale Environment 360 outlines the danger that the decline of bees and other pollinators represents to the world’s food supply. This was highlighted this week when the European Commissi…

Lancaster University & Waitrose Agronomy Group collaboration

Lancaster University and TaskScape Associates have released a short film exploring case studies showing how low technology modifications and high technology, game-changing, innovations can provide the…

Waitrose removes three neonicotinoids from supply chain

WAITROSE is asking suppliers of fruit, vegetables and flowers to avoid the use of three formulations of neonicotinoid based pesticides on crops destined for the supermarket. The move comes in light of…

Budget boost for science in the east

The budget may have been low on specifics but it is already clear that one part of the region is going to do very well out of the Chancellor. We understand that a large part of the £1.6bn announced f…

Science meeting in London on 12 February

The programme is available on-line.